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Deputy Director, Human Capital Management

Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (OCAO)

Summary

Are you a results-driven HR professional with a passion for creating positive workplace environments? Our Office of Human Resources is looking for a Deputy Director to join our growing team. The Deputy Director will partner with our Director to develop, implement and refine all human capital programs, policies and strategies.

The OHR provides the leadership, services and systems necessary to meet the human resources needs of the USPTO workforce.

Apply now and be a part of our exciting journey

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/25/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 25, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—Situational Telework Program - The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$198,491 - $220,000 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
Yes
Federal service type
This job is in the Senior Executive Service
Represented by a union
No
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
Yes
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
EXRD-OCAO-26-12970591
Control number
872470500

Duties

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The physical worksite for this position is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Presence at the Alexandria, VA campus is required for this role, as it includes on site functions that must be performed in person. Position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy/business unit discretion. The agency currently allows for 52 hours of telework per calendar year.

All applicants will be assessed for executive competency against the five mandatory Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs). If your two-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and PTQs, you will not receive further consideration for the position. For more information regarding the SES and ECQs, please visit the Executive Core Qualifications page.

As the Deputy Director for Human Capital Management, you'll help shape the future of our organization and make a positive impact on the lives of our employees.The Deputy Director works closely with the Director of Human Capital, the Deputy CAO and other senior management officials to support the mission of the USPTO.

You will establish and execute USPTO's human capital vision, strategies, programs, policies and procedures that are flexible, innovative and efficient, with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and data-driven decision making.

You'll assist in supervising a management team that is responsible for: acting in a trusted HR business partner/consultant role to provide strategic human capital planning and consulting support, HR process automation and data analytics; human capital and human resources policy; recruitment and staffing; veteran hiring; position management, classification, and workforce planning/analysis; competency assessment and gap analysis; processing services related to personnel actions, benefits, retirements, and personnel records management; executive resources program; work life programs; management of compensation and payroll processes; enterprise-wide training programs, including leadership and management training and succession planning; analysis of workforce metrics and best practices research, examination of adherence to merit principles, and the prevention of prohibited personnel practices.

You'll exercise responsibility on behalf of the Director of Human Capital for ensuring that the Agency's human capital initiatives foster high-performing organizations aligned with the Agency's strategic plan. You'll work with the Agency's senior leadership, the Department of Commerce, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other key stakeholders to set direction and establish policy in carrying out human resources management functions for the Agency.

You'll share responsibility for carrying out ways OHR continually identifies and uses new technology, methods, approaches, authorities and flexibilities in meeting the human resource/human capital needs of the Agency as a whole.

You'll provide for staff reviews and evaluations, including studies and analyses of operations at all levels in the Agency to determine adequacy and effectiveness of assigned people, practices and organization, and for compliance with the requirements of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures. You'll ensure correlation of findings with the evaluation of operating program performance and the implementation of indicated corrective action, in cooperation with other staff and Agency senior leaders.

You'll serve as a key advisor to the Director for Human Capital and DCAO, CAO and will be relied upon for consultation, advice and recommendations on overall human capital and human resources management policies and programs of the Agency. This typically involves examining and appraising such programs in terms of strategy, scope, importance, emphasis and timing, as well as the evaluation of organizational structures, management philosophy and methods of operations. You'll advise and recommend on new policies and programs designed to increase operating efficiency.

You'll assist and, as necessary, act for the Director for Human Capital in developing his/her position on major issues arising within the office's areas of responsibility. Toward this end, keeps abreast of USPTO programs, proposed policies, and planning issues, and keeps current on all program areas within the office.

You'll represent the Director for Human Capital and as directed, speak authoritatively in meetings with top USPTO officials, representatives of other government agencies, union representatives and other outside groups.

You'll represent the office on various inter- and intra-agency groups and boards to coordinate policy, guidance, procedures and activities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Subject to a 1-year Senior Executive Service (SES) probationary period (unless already completed).
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment.
  • If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so. (see https://www.sss.gov/RegVer/wfRegistration.aspx)
  • File a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report OGE-278e within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final security clearance prior to entrance on duty. Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
  • May be subject to pre-employment and random drug tests.

Qualifications

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Professional Technical Qualifications (PTQs).

PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

PTQ 1: Demonstrated expertise leading a complex, high-volume HR organization delivering the full spectrum of services (recruitment, staffing, classification, employee/labor relations, benefits, compensation) for a large, geographically dispersed agency, with a proven record executing flexible, innovative, data-driven human capital strategies, programs, policies, and procedures, and implementing automation across the HR lifecycle.

PTQ 2: Demonstrated ability to build trusted, cross-organizational partnerships and provide consultative HR solutions aligned to mission needs, leveraging public and private-sector best practices to drive customer satisfaction and sustain a high-performing, engaged workforce.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Professional Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and PTQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs:

  • ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding
  • ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency
  • ECQ 3: Merit and Competence
  • ECQ 4: Leading People
  • ECQ 5: Achieving Results
Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES.

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

OPM must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Mobility: Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES leaders. Individuals selected for SES positions members may be subject to reassignment across geographical, organizational, and functional lines, and may be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligation Agreement.

Veterans Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

Tiering: The USPTO structures its SES positions into categories (i.e. tiers) to determine the pay range for each position. The categories are based on the position scope, breadth, functions, and placement within the structure of organizational levels across the Department/Agency. This position falls within Tier III of USPTO's structure.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy Statement: http://www.eeoc.gov/federal/index.cfm

Employment Information Resources - Resource Center: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to

The USPTO participates in E-Verify. For more information on E-Verify, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov.

USPTO Job Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should request accommodation(s) from the USPTO at http://www.uspto.gov/accommodation.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and would like to file an EEO complaint, you must do so within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act. Claims of employment discrimination must be submitted to the attention of the USPTO's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity via email (oeeo@uspto.gov) or phone (571-272-8292).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

ECQs and PTQs must be thoroughly addressed within your two (2) page resume.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and required documentation will be conducted. If applicants are found minimally qualified, a rating panel will review the resume and Accomplishment Record. Candidates must address all five competencies within a two-page limit using brief written narratives that describes one example of competency-related experience and demonstrates the candidate's proficiency in the following competencies:

  • Rule of Law: Upholds the principles of the American Founding, including equality under the law and democratic self-government. Ensures the law is applied fairly and consistently.
  • Managing Resources: Manages resources efficiently and effectively based on current and projected organizational goals, skills, budget considerations, and staffing needs.
  • Technical Skill: Possesses the requisite technical knowledge and subject matter expertise to consistently produce timely, high-quality work. Is considered a strong contributor in his or her domain.
  • Accountability: Ensures that employees are appropriately recruited, selected, appraised, trained, and retained. Takes swift action to address performance or conduct-based deficiencies in employees supervised. Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
  • Innovation: Applies creativity to improving products and processes, challenges convention, takes measured risks, and considers ways to simplify and remove unnecessary requirements.

Candidate resumes must provide evidence that supports the claims made in their Accomplishment Record. This document must be uploaded to the application under Accomplishment Record. An accomplishment record submitted outside the USA Staffing system will not be accepted. Narrative responses must be in the below format:

Competency Title
Position title and dates from your resume that this experience was obtained

  • Describe the situation (i.e., the challenged faced, the problem solved)
  • Describe the specific actions you took
  • State the outcome, results, or long-term impact of your accomplishment
  • Name and email address of someone who can verify this information

Superior applicants may undergo one or more interviews and may be referred to the selecting official for further consideration.

Upon selection, if not already a member of the SES serving under a career appointment, the individual selected must have his/her executive qualifications certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) before appointment to this position. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to the OPM for review and certification by the QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SESCDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.

Patent and Trademark Office

Come work for the USPTO, we have been ranked as one of the best places to work in the federal government! The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has been serving the economic interests of America for more than 200 years. We are responsible for granting US intellectual property rights for patents and trademarks. The USPTO is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, and has over 12,000 employees. For more information about the USPTO, please visit the USPTO Jobs Website.

Agency contact information

Isis Thomas
Phone
571-272-9307
Email
isis.thomas@uspto.gov
Address
EXRD - Office of the Chief Administrative Officer
Office of Human Resources
Mail Stop 171
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
US

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